Third rail protector bracket



Dec. 15, 1931. w. c. BANKS THIRD RAIL PROTECTOR BRACKET "Filed 5. 1930 INVENTOR llzmm 'C-Banks ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1931 V UNITED STATES 7 WILLIAM o. BANKS, or cra t, ew JERSEY, V

rmn BAIL rno'mea'on Application filed August 5, 19:0, ser i m. 478,187. PT

This invention relates to an improved bracket for supporting the wooden protector strips or boards which overlie the third or power rail of anelectric railway, and the 7, same is in the nature of an improvement over prior United States Letters Patent No.

1,532,836, granted April 7, 1925;

The brackets employed for this purpose which are now in general use and which are m commonl of the type disclosed in the patent above re erred to, are open to the objection that they can be properly used in connection with track rails of one size only, thereby requiring a different sized bracket for each size F. of track rail. Obviously, this is atremendous disadvantage in event the size of the track rails is changed after the third or power rail protectors have been installed, in that it necessitates a complete removal of the third or power rail installation in order to change the size of the brackets.

The present invention aims primarily to overcome the above recited objections and disadvantages by provlding an improved brack- 95 et which is adjustable in height to accommo:

ed and the cost of production of which has o in use, and in which the ad'ustment thereof may be readily accomplishe either before or after installation.

With the above recited and other objects {0 in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same. a In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa side View of the improved protector bracket in its installed position, parts being broken away and shown in section to disclose the underlying structure.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken nection between the base and terminal.

not been materially lncreased over those now approximately on the line indicated at 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken a roximately on the line indicated at 33 in. -gure 1., v j

Referring tothe drawings by characters of-reference, the bracket includes a base A, an upper superposed overlying bracket arm B, and a shank desi ated generally by the reference character a the base A being designed for attachment to a tie of a railway, the terminal B being adapted to support theprotector strip or board which overlies the third rail,- and the shank (l -forming" a con 7 In order to constructthe bracket so as to renderthe same capable of use in connection with track rails of varyingstandard sizes, the shank portion Gincludesupper and lower sections 5 and; 6, which are of the usual channel shaped configuration in cross'section and which are designed to nest one withinthjeo'theri. .7; I Y a r i w The lower" section 6, whichis preferably formed integral with the base A, is'provided 7 r i with a series 1 of vertically spaced openings or slots7, while the upper section 5 is formed with a. tongue 8 which is designed to be selectively received by the openings or slots 7, for the purpose of increasin or decreasing I gothe height of the shank C to coincide with the different sizes of track rails used. In order to lock thev sections 5 and 6 in their vertically adjustedfpositions,'said sections are provided withda seriesof registrable boltreceiving'g openings 9 and 10 for a bolt 11 and a nut 12. In ,Figurelof thedrawings, there are illustrated in full and dotted lines two of the relative positionsof the sections15 and 6 to disclose the mannerin which the terminal B is I adjusted. It thus follows that brackets constructed in -the manner. set forth may be initially adjusted'to the desired height to coincide with the size of track rail used, and, further,fthatin event of a change in the size I of the trackg rails after installation of the third rail and its proctetors andbrackets, the said br'ackets'may be adjusted to compensate to the new size track rails without 'afiecting the inst'allationof the third-rail.

While there has been illustrated and described a preferred form of the manner in which the bracket is rendered adjustable, it

is to be clearly understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details, and that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bracket for third rail protector 7 strips, a base havingan integral upstanding shank portion, an overlying terminal portion v to which the protector strip is secured having an inte ral depending shank portion and:

means f br connecting said' upstanding and depending shank portions for vertical adjustment. I

. 2. In a bracket for third rail protector strip's,fa vertical channel shaped shank in eluding a pair of telescopically associated sections, one of said sectionshaving a series of vertical openings and a tongue 'formed'on the other section selectively engageable in said openings.

3. In a bracket tor third rail protector strips, a vertical channel shaped shank including a pair of telescopically associated sections, one of said sections having a series of vertical openings and atongue-form'ed on the other section selectively engageable in 7 said openings andme'an's'for locki'ngsaid shank sections in vertically adjusted relation against separation."

4. In a bracket" for third rail )rotec'tor .stri s, a vertical channel shaped s ank inclu ing a pair of telescopically associated sections, one of said sections havinga series of vert cal opemngs and a tongue formed onthe other section selectively 'engageable in said openings and means for locking said shank sections in vertically adjusted relation against separation, saidfmeans including registering openingsin the ShaIIk'SQCtlOIIS and a bolt adapted to beselectively received by said openings.

5. In a bracket for third rail-protector strips, a base having an upstanding shank portion and an overlying terminal portion to which the protector strip is secured, said 7 terminal portion having a depending shank portion and means for connecting'saidfupstanding and depending shank portions for vertical adjustment. 1

r 6. Abracket for supporting third rail pro- 7 tectorstrips in superposed relation to a third rail, including i a shank element depending from said protector strip, a second shank element supported at its lowerend and extendingupwardly'alongside ofthe third rail and means for connecting said shank elements for vertical adjustment to permit of the adjustment of the protector 'strip relative to the third rail whereby tojcompensate for.

variation in the height of the third rail used.

. WILLIAM" G. BANKS. 

